Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy is a fascinating, heartbreaking, and evocative novel. The novel is set in the rural English countryside and chronicles the tale of Tess Durbeyfield, an unassuming country girl who is driven by misfortune and circumstance to an entirely different life than the one she had imagined.

The protagonist of Tess of the D’Urbervilles, Tess Durbeyfield, is impulsive and naive. She lives in a rural village with her family, and has grown up among the traditions of the simple countryside life. Her family is poor, and they struggle to make ends meet, so Tess takes on the extra responsibilities that few of her family members are able to do. Despite her impoverished circumstances, Tess leads a humble yet content life in her village.

When Tess’ aged and ailing father learns of his noble lineage, he goes searching for the wealthy D’Urberville family who are supposedly related to him. This leads to Tess’ fateful encounter with Alec D’Urberville. Alec is an arrogant and sinister man who, upon meeting Tess, is immediately entranced and wants to make her his own. Thus begins Tess’ journey away from the simplicity of her village and into an uncertain future.

Tess takes up Alec’s offer of employment, which leads to a series of unfortunate events that demonstrates the power of chance and destiny and the devastating consequences of her decisions. Tess’ newfound employment leads her to a small estate, Flintcomb-Ash, where she is taken advantage of and abused. Because Tess has a gentle heart, she is a victim of Alec’s selfishness and ambition.

Despite her unhappy fate, Tess does find a certain kind of peace in her rural surroundings and falls in love with an older man named Angel Clare. Angel and Tess share a passionate romance that is ultimately derailed by a cruel turn of events. When Tess reveals what has happened to her and Alec, Angel is forced to confront his idealistic view of love and sacrifice his own happiness to redeem Tess’ reputation.

Tess and Angel eventually face yet another trial that leads to the novel’s climax in which Tess’ final fate is revealed. In the end, Tess is able to put her past misfortunes behind, and she realizes the power of free will in spite of the insurmountable odds she in which she has been faced. Tess of the D’Urbervilles is a deeply affecting work of literature and a brilliant portrayal of the struggle and joy of human experience. Hardy masterfully explores themes of class, love, deception, innocence, and the power of fate through his unforgettable characters and the setting of rural England.